Obituary of Isabel Abraham

ABRAHAM, Catharine Isabel Woodward October 15, 1912 - December 25, 2011 Beloved mother of Joan Woodward and Patricia Papernick, and dear mother-in-law of David Papernick. Much loved Nana of Ben, Katie and Hannah. Loving wife of the late Dr. H.E. Woodward (1978) and Sheldon Abraham (1990). Isabel spent her early years on her family's farm in Senlac, Saskatchewan and later in Saskatoon, leaving her with an enduring love of the Prairies. Youngest of four daughters of Mary Fidelia and H.O. Wright, her mother was her first piano teacher. Isabel's growing talent then led to her coming east in 1930 to study at the Toronto Conservatory of Music. She earned her Licentiate for piano performance with honours and began teaching as well as accompanying other musicians in concerts. Married in 1941 to Bert Woodward, Isabel continued her studies of piano, organ, and conducting in Montreal and Toronto. Their daughters arrived in 1948 and 1950. By 1950, the family was settled in Leaside and Isabel found herself leading the Girls' Choir at Leaside United Church. Throughout the 50s, the choir competed in the Kiwanis Festival, performed original musical shows, as well as singing for regular church services. A generation of young women absorbed a love of music and song and formed lifelong friendships through the choir. But Isabel saw a chance to impart her knowledge and enthusiasm to a wider audience by teaching music in the schools, and after completing a year at Teachers' College she was hired by the North York Board of Education. In 1960, she began teaching in the music department of Northmount Junior High (now Cummer Valley Middle School) and eventually became the first woman Chair of a music department in North York. When Newtonbrook Secondary School opened, Isabel became its Head of Music, another first. Over the next few years, hundreds of students absorbed her infectious love of music and, for many, the highlight of the school year was her annual full-scale musical theatre production. Gilbert & Sullivan was suddenly cool! Some of her pupils went on to make music their own career and many of her former students remained in touch right up until her passing. Isabel retired in 1976 to enjoy two years of travel and home life with Bert. Starting in 1979, she also delighted in the arrival of her three grandchildren. Her energy found new outlets in the Toronto Heliconian Club, needlework, handbell choir, volunteering at the CNIB, and more travel. In 1982, while on a Caribbean cruise, she met Sheldon Abraham. They married later that same year and she got much pleasure from joining the extended Abraham family and her new status as a great-granny. As a couple, they enjoyed winter breaks in Scottsdale and San Diego and summers in Woodland Beach until his passing. Isabel moved to the Gibson Retirement Residence in 2002 and was still living there on Christmas Day. Predeceased by her beloved older sisters, Mildred Paul, Esther Sutherland and Edna Jewett. She is survived by her Woodward, Papernick and Abraham families and many nieces, nephews and dear friends. The funeral will take place on Friday, January 6, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in the CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOUR, 1 Laurentide Drive, Don Mills (York Mills/DVP). The family request that instead of flowers you consider a donation in memory of Isabel to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario, 2300 Yonge Street, Suite 1300, Box #2414, Toronto M4P 1E4 or the Heliconian Hall Foundation, 35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto M5R 2E3. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.